How to Create a CON Folder in Windows?

Have you ever tried to create a CON folder or any folder with names such as “con”, “prn”, “nul” “com1” “com2” “lpt1” etc. but failed? Is it impossible to create folders with such names in windows?

Well, the answer is NO and YES!

NO because, when create a new folder and try to rename it to any one of the above specified names, you know what happens! In Windows XP the folder name automatically changes back to “New Folder” no matter you try to renaming it any number of times. Where as in case of Windows Vista and Windows 7, when you try to rename the file you get an error message saying “The specified device name is invalid”.

What is the reason behind this? Simple, these names represent the internal devices of the operating system and hence we cannot create folders with the above names.

YES because it is still possible to create these folders using some simple methods as explained below:

1. Using the Command Prompt:

Here is a step-by-step procedure to create the “con” folder using the command prompt:

Go to the command prompt:

Type in the command prompt (For ex. To create a folder in the E: drive by name: “CON”)

C:\>md \\.\e:\con

NOTE: “con” can be replaced by any other names such as “prn”, “nul” “com1” “com2” “lpt1” etc.

In case if you wish to delete the folder, use the following command:

C:\>rd \\.\e:\con

NOTE: This folder can only be deleted from the command prompt. You cannot remove it by right-click delete.

2. Using ALT Key and Numeric Keypad:

You can also use the Alt key and the Numeric keypad to accomplish the same job in a much easier way. Here is how you can do it:

Create a New folder (Right-click -> New -> Folder)

Once the new folder is created, right-click on it and select the option “Rename”.

Hold down the ALT key and type 0160 from the numeric keypad (ALT+0160) and release the ALT key.

Now, the folder name should go blank so that you can type any name of your choice such as “con”, “prn” “nul” etc. and press Enter. That’s it, you’re done!

Comments

ha its very easy just create new folder rename it by using alt+2+5+5 (2,5,5 no. should be typed from numpad by turning it on) after this you can give any name or u can leave the folder with blank name. enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Ha its impossible. Puruu is wrong `alt+2+5+5` is a code of a simvol which we can`t see in desktop. But if you enter `alt+2+5+5` in Excel file you`ll see this symbol. So it is impossible to create CON folder

dadecoders is wrong too, because we can create empty folder not only with `ALT+0160`. We can create empty folder with every symbol which is`nt appear when we enter this codes/ And it means that there are have a name which we cannt see. Enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

i think windows is seeing these as device names & rather than causing confusion to itself it will not allow these names to be used as a folder name in case some poorly written application see’s it as a device!

i think you could use ubuntu linux to access the drive using fuse & create the folder that way (because it is windows stopping you NOT the ntfs) but weather windows will display/acknowledge this folder is another story

it would be intersting to see if windows has this behavior with other supported filesystems!